Propelling means for long strips of material



May 14, 1940. s. coHN ETAL I PROPELLING MEANS FOR LONG STRIPS 0FMATERIAL 4- Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1937 ATTORNEY May 14, 1940. s.COHN HAM 2.200.323

PROPELLING MEANS FOR LONG STRIPS 0F MATERIAL Filed Aug. 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 &m

J (II-S- 6744 AfioRNEY 7 I Fun... 1 a. a. 1.

May 14, 1940. col-IN AL 2,200,328

BROPELLING MEANS FOR LONG STRIPS OF MATERIAL Filed Aug. 26, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY f May 14, 1940. I s. coHN ET AL 2.200.328

PROPELLING MEANS FOR LONG STRIPS OF MATERIAL Filed Aug. 26, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 4 .,7 ,6: M ATTORNEY ?atented May M, was

UNETE arcane PROPELLING MEANS FOR LONG STRIPS F MATERIAL Samuel Colin,New York, and Jules G. Walter,

Ridgewood, N. EL; assig'nors to Samcoe Holding. Corporation, New York,N. Y., a corporation of New York The present case iscontinuation-in-part, of our application Serial No. 691,522, filed the29th day of September 1933.

Our invention relates to means for propelling long strips of material,and especially woven or knitted fabrics, where it is desired to maintaina uniform and regulated tension on the strip while it is beingpropelled, or to cause propulsion of the strip in a manner which willcause no appreciable l0 tension upon the strip. While our invention isadapted for use in different types of machines, it is especially usefulas means for propelling long and continuous strips of fabric, eitherwoven or knitted, in a series of runs which may be vertical orhorizontal, within a drying chamber where the strip is subjected to heatfor extracting moisture from it, and we have illustrated our inventionas adapted for this particular use without, however, intending to limitour invention to a particular use.

In our copending'application Serial lfIo. 108,318, filed October 30,1936, we have shown a fabric drying machine and the present invention isadapted to be used for propelling the fabric in that type of machine.

In passing a strip of fabric, and especially knitted fabric, in atortuous path through a drying chamber for the purpose of extracting themoisture from the fabric, a number of variable conditions are met with.That is to say, in some cases it is desirable to maintain a slighttension lengthwise of the strip and to control this tension and maintainit uniform throughout all portions of the strip while it is beingsubjected to a drying operation; and in other cases it is'desirable topropel the fabric without subjecting it to any longitudinal tension, andthe present apparatus is adapted to accomplish either of these results.

5 Long strips of knitted tubular fabric are subject to wide variations,especially when propelled, and especially in a drying chamber, becausethis type of fabric by its very nature is easily stretched in thedirection of its length, in which case it has a tendency to becomenarrower in width and on the other hand if it is stretched laterally ithas a tendency to shorten in length. In addition, the extraction ofmoisture from the fabric has a tendency to shrink it as moisture isgradually ex- 0tracted, and this shortens'the fabric. While a strip ofknitted fabric is passing through a drying chamber in a number of runsor courses, different portions of the strip will undergo changesdifferent from other portions. That is to say, as

the fabric travels towards the point where it .be-

comes driest, it will have received maximum shrinking action, whereaswhere it enters the chamber in its wettest condition the shrinkingaction will not have taken place but will become effective gradually asthe fabric travels, so that ti different runs of the long strip offabric may change and become different from the portions in other runs.

By means of our present invention it is possible to propel the fabric atdifferent places along its 10 length and to modify the speed ofpropulsion not only for the whole strip of fabric but to modify thepropulsion locally to suit the variable conditions in the differentportions of the long strip.

Under the present invention the strip of fabric 15- itself controls thespeedof propulsion at different points along its length so that either auniform and regulated tension may be created in the fabric, or alooseness may be maintained in the different portions of the fabric butthe drive can be 20 so regulated as to prevent the excess accumulationof the fabric at different parts of its length within the dryingchamber. In other words, the present invention while controlled by thefabric itself, provides means for maintaining either a 25 definite anduniform tension, or a looseness without excessive accumulation of thefabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying thespeed of operation of the different feed rollers which propel thefabric,

in which the speed regulating means for the individual rollers may becontrolled by very slight forces so that the feeder rollers engaging adelicate fabric may cause the variation in speed of the propellingrollers, even where the fabric is of a delicate nature. For this reasonwe have employed slippable means between the source of power and thepropelling rollers for effecting adjustment of the speed of the feedingrollers under the control of delicate orlight fabrics. 40

Where delicate fabric, such as knitted tubular goods, is acted upon bythe present invention,- very light force can originate at the fabric forcontrolling the speed regulation, as otherwise the fabric itself wouldbe distorted by the feeder rollers and in the present case the controlof the speed is very sensitive.

Other advantages and objects will be set forth in the following detaileddescription of our invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a strip of fabric guided to movein a series of superposed 8 dancer roller device,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a propelling device like thatshown in Figure 2 except that the dancer roller is disposed to affect apropelling roller adjacent thereto, whereas in Figure 2 the controlof-.each roller is from a remote point,

Figure 6 is an elevation of the dancer roller device and speed regulatorcorresponding to that shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the inventionwherein a slip clutch is used to control the speed of the propellingroller and wherein the slip clutch is controlled by a dancer roller,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure '7,

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing the propelling roller controlledthrough a slip clutch without a dancer roller,

Figure 10 is an elevation showing a series of propelling rollers with aslip clutch device controlled by a dancer roller for controlling thespeed of the propelling roller, and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of parts shown in Figure 10.

We will first describe the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4inclusive. In Figure 1 we have shown a strip of fabric l of considerablelength, which is propelled in a number of horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal runs 2, 3 superposed so that each successive run is disposedbelow the one next above it, which arrangement may be conveniently usedin the drying chamber for drying long or continuous strips of fabric, asindicated in the parent application. The horizontal runs of the fabricare supported, preferably, at short intervals by rollers t acting asidlers, and serving to support the weight of 'the fabric, so that theweight of a whole run of fabric will not rest merely upon the propellingrollers and cause excessive stresses in the fabric.

Where the fabric starts in its course through the present device, itpasses first between the guide rollers 5 as it comes from any machine ordevice in which the fabric may have been previously moistened ortreated; and as it is about to be dried it first passes around a smallguide roller 6, then partly around a larger, driving roller 7, thencearound another small guide roller 8 which follows in position thepropelling roller 7.

From there, the fabric extends horizontally or substantially so, overthe upper row of guide rollers 6 until at the left hand end of themachine the fabric travels partly around another propelling roller 9,after which it travels from left to right over the second row ofsupporting rollers 4 and at the right hand end of the machine it againpasses partly around another propelling roller 1 which is like the firstpropelling roller I. In this manner the fabric passes .back and forthbetween the several propelling rollers l, 9 in a series of horizontal orsubstantially horizontal superposed runs, and there may be any number ofthese runs, according to the length of time required to dry the fabric.

It is understood that the several runs of fabric and the propellingrollers may all be used in a drying chamber so that the fabric issubjected to a current of heated air for a suflicient time to extractthe desired proportion of moisture from it.

The means for propelling the fabric and for controlling the propulsionlocally is controlled by the fabric itself whereby the condition or thefabric in reference to its loosenew or tautness will cause localpropulsion of the fabric to maintain a definite looseness or tautness indifferent parts of the fabric. In Figure 2 we have shown the movableparts of the device for controlling the propulsion of the fabric. Inthis view we have shown at the left a shaft III which is the shaft onwhich one of the propelling rollers 9 is mounted and as all of thepropelling rollers 9 and the control means associated therewith arealike the description will apply to each.

In the right of this figure we have shown another shaft I l which is oneof the shafts on which one of the propelling rollers l at the right inFigure 1 is mounted. At the left in Figure 2, and mounted on the shaftit we have shown a pulley wheel l2 which is preferably disposed outsideof the heating chamber, the shaft It) being extended through the heatingchamber and the pulley being mounted on the extended portion of theshaft. There is a bracket 13, preferably supported on the shell of theheating chamber, and on the stud l4 mounted in the free end of thisbracket, there is a lever IS the upper end of which is pivotally mountedon the stud so that the lever may swing toward and from the pulley l2.

Intermediate the ends of this lever there is shown a stud IS on which ismounted an idler pulley l! which presses on the left side of the belt IEto press the right side of this belt against the pulley I 2. Preferably,the axis of the idler i1 is disposed slightly below the axis of theshaft II] as shown in Figure 2, so that if the general direction of thebelt i8 is vertical, pressure of the idler l1 against the belt willcause a local bending of the belt to slightly wrap it around the surfaceof the pulley IE to increase the traction action between the belt andthe pulley.

The lower end of the lever I5 is provided with a hub; l9 having athreaded bore into which is threaded a sleeve 20. The latter isadjustable by being turned so that the position of the sleeve inrelation to the hub l9 may be varied to take up slack in a connectingwire to'be referred to. Once the position of the sleeve 20 is adjustedin relation to the hub I9 it may be fixed by means of a lock nut 2|which is threaded over the sleeve and which abuts against one end of thehub 19. It is understood that thebelt I8, which is endless, may bedisposed in a vertical position and engage a number of pulleys l2 in avertical row. Preferably, this belt is rather thick and is made of arubber composition to provide suflicient traction between the belt andthe pulleys.

There is a coiled spring 22 disposed between one end of the sleeve 20and surrounding a wire 23 which runs through the hollow sleeve 20. Theother end of this spring abuts against a block 24 which is slidable onthe end of the wire 23 and is adapted to be fixed in different positionsof adjustment by a set screw 25. In the arrangement shown in Figures 1and 2 the wire 23 extending from the right hand end of the sleeve 20 inFigure 2 extends lengthwise of the machine and its opposite end isconnected by an attaching member 26 to a short arm 21 of one of thedancer roll devices to be described hereinafter.

The pulley 28 at the right side of Figure 2 corresponds with the pulleyI! but it is attached to the shaft II which is one of the shaftscarrying one of the propelling rollers I. The bracket 29 attached to theexterior of the housing of the drying chamber has a stud 30 on its freeend on which is pivotally mounted a lever 3|. On the upper end of. thislever there is revolvably mounted on the stud 30 the roller 32 whichcorresponds in function with the roller ll but it acts on anothervertically disposed propelling belt 33 which co-operates with all thepulleys 28 of the vertical row on the right hand end of the machine. Thelower end of one arm of the lever 3| has a hub 34 corresponding to thehub IS in the left of the figure, and the sleeve, lock nut, spring andstop carried by the lower end of the lever is the same as on the leverl5'except that the parts face in the opposite direction.

The wire 35 which passes through the right with a short arm 21 which ismounted on the shaft 36, which carries one of the dancer rollers. Asshown in, Figures 3 and 4, the shaft 35 of the dancer roller device hasmounted upon it two laterally extending and parallel lever arms 31 thehubs 38 of which surround the shaft and are fixed by set screws 39. Thefree ends of these lever arms have hubs 40 in which is journaled a shaft4| carrying a dancer roller 42. This roller is shown as consisting ofend blocks43 fixed on the shaft 4| and a cylindrical member 44 is fittedover these blocks to be carried there- The cylinder 44 is shown ascovered with a fabric 45 to prevent injury to the strip of fabric withwhich the roller engages. The dancer roller is arranged inside thedrying chamber as indicated in Figure 3, and between the side walls 46thereof and the dancer roller 42, is so positioned that it will engageagainst the fabric preferably on the top of the second, fourth, sixthand similar horizontal runs of the fabric, as'indicated in Figure 1. Wehave shown the dancer roller as engaging the top surface of these runsof the fabric between one of the guide rollers 8 which is adjacent oneof the propelling rollers and the first supporting roller 4 next to itas indicated in Figure 1.

' On the shaft 36 on which the arms 31' are mounted and which shaftprojects through the two walls of the drying chamber, there is mountedacounterbalancing arm 41 having a weight 48 which is adjustable along.this arm. The weight is provided with a tooth 49 which'is adapted todrop into any one of the recesses 50 of the counterbalancing arm to holdthe Weight-in different adjusted positions along this arm. The weight isso adjusted as to partly counterbalance the weight of the arms 31 andthe dancer roller, so

that the dancer roller will press very lightly on the top surface of thestrip of fabric in order that the-dancer roller device may be sensitiveand will exert very little pressure on the fabric so as not to stretchit in the'directionof its length.

In Figures 3 and 4 we have shown'one of the propelling rollers, and allof the propelling rollers l and 9 shown in Figure 1 may be constructedlike the roller shown in Figures 3 and 4. The shafts l 0 or I l on whichtheserollers are mounted extend across the dryingchamberand have theirbearings in bearing members 51 mounted in blocks 52 which are themselvesmounted in the'walls of the drying chamber. On the shaft In or H aremounted flanges or heads 53 secured to the shaft by a set screw 54 andon the peripheries of these heads there is mounted a cylindrical shell55 to complete the 'roller.. The cylin-.

drical shell is preferably covered by a fabric 56 to provide propertraction between the roller and the strip of fabric and to preventinjury to .the latter. One end of the shaft l0 or'l I promeans describedabove.

' Operation This form of the invention operates in the following manner:There is preferably a dancer roller disposed adjacent each of thepropelling rollers 1 and 9 in Figure 1, but in this form of theinvention the dancer roller at one end of the apparatus controls thedrive of the propelling roller at the opposite end of the apparatus byacting through one ofthe wires 23 or 35. The vertically operating beltl8 engaging all of the pulleys I 2 at the left end of the apparatustends to drive all of the pulleys l2 at a given maximum speed and allalike. The vertically operating belt 33 at the opposite endof theapparatus tends to drive all of the pulleys28 at this end of the machineand all at the same maximum speed. But the speed of eachindividualpropelling roller is modified in accordance with the action ofthe dancer roller controlling each pulley.

If, for instance, one of the dancer rollers at the right of the machine"shown in Figure 2 moves up or down in accordance with the tautnes's orlooseness of the fabric where this dancer roller engages the fabric itwillcause the shaft 36 to turn right or left, according to the movementof.

the dancer roller and the short arm 21 acting'on the free end of thewire 23 will cause this'wire to be moved'either right orleft in Figure2. Ifthe wire is drawn to the right in this figure, the block 24attached to the left hand end of this wirepage between the belt and thepulley will be decreased and thereby. the speed of the pulley I2 will begradually increased. As this pulley is mounted on one of the propellingrollers 9 it will increase the propulsion of the fabric whereit engagesaround one of these pulleys at the left hand end of the machine.Conversely, if the wire 23 is moved to the left in Figure 2, the block24 will release the pressure on the sleeve 20 and therefore allow thelever l5 to rock clockwise until the pressure of the roller I!againstthe beltv decreases.

As this pressure decreases there will be a-greater slippage between thebelt! and the pulley [2 so that the latter slows down and a point may bereached where there is no pressure of the roller ll against the belt l8,whereupon the pulley l2 will cease to be driven. This will slow down orstop the driving action of one of the rollers 9 so thatthe fabric ceasesto be driven at this particular point and it allows the upper run of thefabric engaging the particular drive roller to slacken. During theoperation of the machine the dancer rollers undergo up and downmovements almost continually, so that the propulsion of the strip offabric is being varied rapidly in accordance with the looseness ortautness of the fabric at each propelling roller.

If the dancer roller connected with the shaft 36 at the left of Figure 2moves up or down and rocks this shaft, the action is transmitted throughthe short arm 21 to the wire 35 and the action on the lever 3| andpressure roller 32 will be the same as just described in connection withthe pulley 12 so that the pulley 28 will be driven at varying speeds bythe belt 33. This pulley being mounted on the shaft l I of one of thepropelling rollers I at the right in Figure 1, the same action will takeplace as with the propelling roller at the left side of the machine, asjust described, but the speed of the right hand propelling roller willbe modified in accordance with the corresponding dancer roller at theleft hand end of the machine.

It will be apparent that different portions of the strip of fabric,while travelling over the sup-. porting rollers 4 undergo changes intautness or looseness adjacent the different propelling rollers, and thespeeds of the latter are changed or modified so that different runs ofthe strip of fabric will be propelled faster or slower to maintainadefinite tautness or looseness in the fabric at difierent pointsthroughout its course of travel ,through the drying chamber.

In the device shown in Figures 5 and fifthe arrangement is such that thedancer roller controls the speed of operation of the propelling rollerat the same end of the machine. The pulley I2 shown in Figure 6 ismounted on the shaft H! of one of the propelling rollers 9 at the lefthand end of the machine, and this pulley performs the same function asthe pulley I2 in the first described form of the invention. The belt l8corresponds with the belt i8 described above. The lever 51 which carriesthe pressure pulley is shown as of bell crank form and pivoted upon thestud 59. One arm 60 of this lever extending horizontally is connectedpivotally with a link 6i and the upper end of this link is pivotallyconnected with the lever arm 41 which is fixed upon the shaft 36. Thelever arm 41 corresponds with the lever arm 41 in the first describedform of the invention and it carries a similar counterweight 48 which isadjustable along this arm. There is a pair of arms 31 also attached tothe shaft 36 and they carry a dancer roller 42 between them at theirfree end. This dancer roller is shown as resting on the top surface ofone run of the strip of fabric so that it moves up and down inaccordance with the condition of this run of the fabric. p c

When the dancer roller moves downwardly the lever arm 41 moves upwardly.and this lifts the link 6! and rocks the lever 51 so that the roller 58presses the belt 18 against the pulley l2, thereby increasing thepressure of the belt upon the pulley and causing the latter and thecorresponding fabric propelling roller to be driven faster, therebytaking up the fabric with which the dancer roller engages. When thedancer roller moves upwardly due to the tightening of the run of fabricwith which it engages, a reverse action takes place and the roller 58 ismore or less withdrawn from the belt 18 to release the pressure of thisbelt upon the pulley l2 and thereby allow slippage or complete stoppingof the pulley i2, thereby decreasing the drive of the fabric, or atleast that run with which the dancer roller in Figure 6 engages.

Similar devices may be arranged to engage the fabric driving rollers Iat the right hand end of the machine, except that the parts will bearranged in the opposite position. By providing a device of thischaracter for each fabric propelling roller the several runs of thefabric will be driven faster or slower to maintain a definite tension inthe fabric or to maintain any definite looseness in the fabric. a

In Figures 7 and 8 we have shown another.

form of the invention wherein the dancer roller device is combined witha friction clutch device to control the operation of the fabricpropelling roller. In this case the fabricpropelling roller 9 has itsshaft Ill extending through the wall 45 of the drying chamber and on theprojecting end of this shaft there is fixed a disc 62 by means of a pin63. There is another disc 64 mountedric roller is propelled from anysuitable source of power. There is also mounted on the shaft ill a disc68 and between this and the disc 64 there is disposed a ball bearingdevice 69 whereby pressure may be applied laterally against the slidingdisc 64 without any retardation by the pressure means of the disc 64.

A bell crank lever 10 is mounted ona stud 1| which is shown as supportedby a bracket I2 mounted on the wall of the drying chamber. One arm ofthis lever has a fork 13 which straddles the end of the shaft l0 and theturned ends of this fork press againstthe disc 68 at opposite sides ofthe shaft to apply lateral pressure to the disc 64. The other arm ofthis bell crank lever has a hub 14 through which a link 15 passes, thelink being slidable in the aperture in the hub; and the upper end of thelink is provided with a fork 16 which is pivotally attached to a shortlever arm TI mounted on the shaft 36 of the dancer roller device.

Between the collar 18 pinned on the link 15 and the top of the hub I4there is a compression spring I3 surrounding the link so that downwardpressure of the link 15 in relation to the lever 10 applies a resistibieor spring pressure to the bell crank lever. on the shaft 36 there ismounted an arm 41 carrying an adjustable weight 18 which serves the samepurpose as the adjustable weight 48 in the previously described form ofour invention. The lever arms 31 disposed in the drying chamber alsocarry a dancer roller 42 which serves the same purpose as the dancerroller in Figure 6.- I

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows: The dancerroller 42 resting lightly against one. run of the propelled fabric willrise and fall, according to the tightness or looseness of the fabricstrip. When the dancer roller rises spring pressure on the bell cranklever and thereby releasing the lateral pressure on the disc the leverarm Tl lifts the link 15 releasing the 64 so that the sprocket membercan revolve without revolving the disc 62 which is secured to the shaftof the fabric propelling roller, or permit a slippage between the partsso that the speed of operation of the fabric propelling roller isreduced.

Conversely, if the dancer roller moves downwardly due to a slackening inthe fabric, the link 15 will move downwardly and act on the spring 19 toapply downward pressure to the bell crank lever 70 and this will causeone arm thereof to move to the left in Figure '7 and apply pressureagainst the disc 66 which will be transmitted through the ball bearingdevice to the disc 62. This will cause more or less pressure as betweenthe discs 62, 6d and the intervening sprocket wheel, thereby causing thefabric propelling roller to be driven more nearly in accordance with thespeed of motion of the sprocket wheel or even up to that speed. Thisaction will tend to drive this particular fabric propelling roller at agreater speed, thereby taking up the slack in that run of the fabricwith which this particular dancer roller engages.

In Figure 9 there is shown a slip clutch device "for modifying the speedof the fabric driving roller and wherein the dancer roller device isomitted. In this case the fabric propelling roller 9 mounted within thedrying chamber has one end of the shaft in projecting through the wallof the chamber. At this projecting end of the shaft there is a'disc 80secured by the pin 8| and opposed to this there is a disc 82 whichslides along the shaft. Between these two discs there is mounted asprocket wheel 83 the central portion of which formsa disc which isinterposed between the faces of the discs 80, 82 and if desired leatheror similar material may be used as Washers between the opposite faces ofthe sprocket to permit slippage between the several sprockets. There isa coiled spring 84 surrounding the shaft 18 with one end pressing fromright to left in Figure 9 against the hub of the 'disc 82 and the otherend pressing against acollar 85 slidable on the shaft l8.

' There is a block 86 adjustably secured to the shaft ID by a set screw81 and the pin 88 on this block forms a pivot for an adjusting member89.'

This adjusting member has three flat surfaces 98, 9|, 92 disposed atdifferent distances from the pivot pin 88 to vary the compressive actionof the spring 84 against the friction disc 82 to vary the action of theclutch on the shaft. When this device is in operation, if the fabricpropelling roller 9 which is being driven through the action move inrelation to the two discs so that the speed of the fabric propellingroller due to the slippage will be less than the speed of the sprocketwheel.

This will decrease the speed of propulsion of that portion of the fabricwith which the roller 9 engages so that some other roller in the serieswhich is delivering the fabric to the roller 9 will have fed forwardenough fabric to decrease the resistance to the operation of the roller9 and gradually allow the latter to be propelled at or near the speed ofthe sprocket 83. Slippage due to excessive tension on the fabric at anyof the fabric propelling rollers will prevent the development ofexcessive tension on the fabric and prevent it from being distorted bythe driving means which in the case of knitted tubular fabric isimportant because it is easily distorted if subjected to excessivelongitudinal tension.

4 In Figures 10 and 11 it is shown how the features of the constructionshown in Figures 7 and 9 can be combined. In the left hand side ofFigure 10 the several runs of the fabric are shown as travelling aroundthe fabric propelling rollers 9 corresponding with the similarlynumbered rollers in Figure 1. The shafts IU of these rollers extend tothe exteriorof the drying chamber and they are provided with the membersas shown in Figure 9, that is to say, each shaft is provided with asprocket wheel 83 mounted loosely thereon and disposed between the discs80 which are fixed to the shaft and the disc 82 which is slidable on theshaft, similar to the construction shown in Figure 9. The chain 94engages all of the sprocket wheels 83 of all the rollers 9 in thevertical row, the chain passing around small idler sprockets 95 as shownin the left of Figure 10. At the right hand end of the machine each ofthe rollers 1 corresponding with the roller 1 in Figure l, have theirshafts extended through the wall of the drying chamber.

In the construction shown at the right in Figure 10 and in Figure 11,there is a dancer roller 96 mounted on lever arms 9': which are securedto a shaft 98 and this dancer roller engages a run of the fabric just asit leaves one of the rollers l and an adjacent idler guide roller 99.This dancer roller, however, does not control the speed of the upperpropelling roller 1 in Figure 10, but the one next below it. The shaft98 is mounted in a bracket I08 attached to thewall of the drying chambersimilar to the bracket 12 in Figure '7.

There is another arm llll fixed to the shaft 98 and extending in theopposite direction to the arms 91, this arm preferably being disposedoutof the levers 91 and it slides freely in an aperture in the hub I06of the bell crank lever In! which corresponds with the bell crank lever10 in Figure '7. The spring I08 also correspondsfwith the spring 19 inFigure '7 so that the collar I09 on this link is adapted to pressdownwardly on the spring and apply a resistible pressure to the bellcrank lever. The fork III! on one 'armof this lever presses laterallyagainst the friction disc I l I to cause this disc to press against thesprocket H2 and the latter to press against the friction disc H3 whichis fixed to the shaft I8 thereby applying sufilcient friction to causethe fabric propelling roller 1 to be driven at a greater speed which inan excessive case may reach the speed of the driven sprocket H2.

As'shown in' Figure 10, the dancer roller which engages the fabric nearthe upper fabric propelling roller 1 modifiesthe speed of the fabricpropelling roller next below it which result corresponds more nearly tothe results obtained by the device shown in Figures 1 and 2. Theclutches at the left in Figure 10 should slip under light tension.

It will be understood that the propelling rollers 9 at the left inFigure 10 may have associated with them the same dancer roller controldevice as is shown in the right of Figure 10 with the parts simplyreversed in position to correspond with the relative position of thefabric and the propelling rollers.

The positions of the counterweights 48 may be adjusted along the leverarms 41 so that the pressure of the dancer rollers upon the fabric maybe very light when handling light or delicate fabrics, and the weightsmay be adjusted in the opposite direction when heavier or stronger fab-srics are being handled. The collar 24 at one end of the wires 23, 35 orthe set screw in 26 at the other end of wires 23, 35 may be used toobtain an approximate original setting of the length of the wires 23, 35after which the threaded sleeves 20 may be adjusted in position toregulate the .normal positions of the dancer rollers in relation to theruns of the fabric with which they respectively engage. By theadjustment of the position of the counterweights 48 the operation of thedevice may be adjusted for various types of fabrics.

If desired, the several pulleys l2 and 28 may be decreased in diameter,say, a few thousandths of an inch from the top row of the pulleys l2 and28 toward the bottom row, so that there will be a definite increase inthe surface speed of the propeller rollers I and 9 from the locationswhere they engage the fabric, near its entrance into the drying chambertoward the lower runs of the fabric, which increase of the surface speedof the rollers I and 9 will make up for any slight stretching of thefabric during its propulsion through the machine. This will provide afixed and definite increase in the propelling action of the rollersthroughout the drying operation so that the dancer rollers and thedevices controlled by them need only effect such changes in theindividual drive of the several propelling rollers as may be necessaryto meet the varying conditions which cannot be predetermined.

With the present machine any of,the fabric propelling rollers may cometo a complete'stop under the control of the dancer rollers as our driveis designated to permit this result. This is desirable because withdelicate fabrics it is often necessary to bring about a completecessation of the operation of one or more of the propelling rollers inorder to prevent injury to the fabric. In the present machine the speedof any propelling roller will therefore range from zero to the maximumspeed when the friction drive operates from zero to maximum pressure. Inother words, the driving power and speed of any of the propellingrollers is in proper proportion to the pressure allowed by the cloth onthe dancer roll itself.

From the above it will be apparent that we have provided means forpropelling a long length of fabric by means of fabric propelling rollersengaging the strip of fabric at various separated points within thedrying chamber, and means for automatically regulating the speed of theindividual fabric propelling rollers in accordance with the condition ofthe fabric, that is, its looseness or tautness at different places alongthe strip of fabric which is being propelled. This arrangement may beused to prevent excessive accumulation of the fabric at any point of itstravel, or to prevent excessive tension on the fabric. This is necessaryin the handling of knitted tubular fabric because of its tendency toelongate due to the propulsion action and also to accommodate thevarious portions of the drive to any decrease in length of the fabricdue to shrinkage, and it permits the fabric to be propelled through thedrying chamber and to be brought out uniform as to width and length.

, While we have illustrated and described certain forms of theinvention, we are aware that many modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in thefollowing claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited to theparticular forms shown and described nor to the details of constructionthereof.

Having described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A device for propelling a strip of fabric, including a roller withwhich the strip of fabric engages, said roller adapted to apply localpropelling action to the strip of fabric, a powerdriven belt adapted torotate said roller by friction engagement of said belt with a pulleymember attached to said roller, means engaging the strip of fabric andcontrolled by the tension thereon, and means operated by said lattermeans for applying variable pressure to said belt against said pulley tovary the speed of operation of said roller.

2. A device for propelling a strip of fabric, including a roller withwhich the strip of fabric engages, said roller adapted to apply localpropelling action to the strip of fabric, a powerdriven belt adapted torotate said roller by friction engagement of said belt with a pulleymember attached to said roller, means engaging the strip of fabric andcontrolled by the looseness or tautness thereof, and means operated bysaid latter means and including a roller which-applies variable pressureto said belt against said pulley to vary the speed of operation of saidroller in response to variations of the tautness of said strip.

3. A device for propelling a strip offabric, including a plurality ofrollers engaging the strip of fabric at difierent points in its path oftravel, and adapted to propel the strip of fabric, pulleys associatedwith said rollers, an endless belt engaging the several pulleys adaptedto propel said rollers, members engaging the strip of fabric atdifferent points in its path and controlled by the looseness or tautnessof the fabric at different points thereof, and means operated by saidmembers individually to vary the pressure between said belt andindividual ones of said pulleys.

4. A device for handling a strip of fabric. including a plurality, ofrollers for engaging a strip of fabric at different remote points in thecourse of travel thereof, pulleys associated with said rollers, beltsslippably engaging said pulleys to drive said rollers, levers havingrollers for pressing said belts against said pulleys at variablepressures, dancer rollers engaging the strip of fabric at remote pointsin the course of its travel, sleeves adjustable in relation to saidlevers, wires connecting said dancer roller devices with said levers andpassing through said sleeves, and

springs interposed between said sleevesand members on said wires tocushion the action of said dancer rollers in relation to said slipdevices.

5. Apparatus for handling a continuous strip of fabric comprising aplurality of fabric conveying rolls adapted to receive the fabric andpropel it back and forth around successive rolls accuses in a pluralityof successive lengths, a drive means for supplying power to said rollsto propel the fabric through the apparatus at successive local points,and individual friction drives for said rollsfrom said drive meanspermitting the respective rolls to differin speed with relation to thespeed of the drive and with relation to each other and including controlmeans for varying the speed of successive rolls according to thelooseness or tautness of the length of fabric passing between eachrespective controlled roll and an adjacent driven roll.

6. Apparatus asset forth in claim in which the rolls are arrangedinbanks at opposite ends of the apparatusand act to feed the fabric stripback and forth in generally horizontal runs between successive rolls.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the controlled means forvarying the speed'of certain of the rolls includes dancer rolls, eachengaging a length of the fabric passing between the roll to becontrolledand an adjacent driven roll, each such dancer roll moving between therolls in a direction intersecting the fabric length engaged by it.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which the relative peripheralspeeds of successive rolls have definite predetermined differences undernormal operating conditions, the variations of speed of said rollseffected by the individual control means being superposed on saidpredetermined differences.

9. Apparatus for continuously treating lengths of fabric which comprisesa plurality of fabric conveying rolls arranged to convey the fabric in asuccession of runs, a power-operated means for driving said rolls, anindividual friction drive-having friction members for each of said rollsand through which said rolls are individually rotated from saidpower-operated means, a plurality of movable members each individuallyengaging a corresponding fabric run between said rolls and riding onsaid fabric in a direction intersecting said run between said rolls, andeach such movable member being operably connected to the individualfriction drive at the end of the respective run to vary the frictionbetween the friction members thereof.

10. Apparatus for continuously treating lengths 'of fabric whichcomprises means for propelling the fabric in a series of substantiallyhorizontal I runs including propelling rolls engaging the fabric attheends of the runs, a feeler device riding upon a fabric run between saidrolls, an actuating means including a variable friction drive for one ofsaid rolls, and means automatically controlled by the feeler device andacting to vary the speed of the roll in accordance with verticalmovements of the feeler device.

, 11'. In a machine for propelling a strip of fabric, a roll forpropelling said strip, a powerdriven belt adapted to rotate said roll byfriction engagement between said belt and a part connected to said roll,a movable device engaging said -belt adapted to vary the pressurebetween said belt and said part, a movable member having fabric, a rollfor propeiling'said, strip, a power driven belt adapted to rotate saidroll by friction between said belt and a pulley connected to said rollat a point of contact between the roll and the belt, a movable devicecontacting the opposite side of said belt at a point longitudinallydisplaced from said point of contact of belt and pulley, the movement ofsaid device being adapted to flex said belt to vary the area of tractionand the pressure between said belt and said pulley, a dancer roll ridingupon said fabric strip, connecting means transmitting the motion of saiddancer to move said device to different positions to vary said area oftraction and said pressure in response to movements of said dancer dueto changes in looseness or tautness of said strip.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12, in which the mounting of themovable member permits it atone extremity of movement to exert pressurethrough said belt directly upon said pulley. i

SAMUEL COHN. JUL-ES G. WAL'I'ER.

